Ben Healy Leads Strong Irish Squad for Rwanda World Champs
Tour de France stage winner Ben Healy has been confirmed as part of a strong Irish team heading to the UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, next month. The 23-year-old, who is a former national champion, has enjoyed a standout season and now looks set to spearhead Ireland’s hopes on one of the toughest courses in recent memory.
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Healy’s Impressive Form
This summer has been a breakthrough one for Healy. He took his first-ever Tour de France stage victory and even wore the famous yellow jersey for two days. Earlier in the year, he also climbed the podium at the prestigious Liege-Bastogne-Liege race. His recent form in the Irish jersey is equally strong, with top-10 finishes at last year’s World Championships in Switzerland and at the Paris Olympic Games.
Support from Vuelta Riders
Healy will be joined by Vuelta a España competitors Eddie Dunbar and Archie Ryan. Dunbar, who has two Vuelta stage wins to his name from 2024, has shown strong form, though his Tour de France campaign this year was cut short by injury. Meanwhile, Ryan, a Wicklow native, is currently competing in his debut Grand Tour and has already impressed with a 21st-place finish at his first Elite World Championships in 2024.
Townsend, Mullen, and Rafferty Add Depth
The team also features reigning Irish road race champion Rory Townsend. Townsend, in his second stint wearing the national champion’s jersey, recently secured his squad Q36.5’s first-ever World Tour victory at the ADAC Cyclassics in Germany. Time-trial specialist Ryan Mullen, a consistent performer for Ireland, will compete in both the time trial and the road race, just as he did at the Paris Olympics. His efforts in Paris were crucial in setting up Healy’s strong result. Darren Rafferty, last year’s national road race champion, steps up from the Under-23 category to the Elite level. Rafferty impressed earlier this year at the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta España, and he will partner Mullen in the time trial.
Tough Conditions in Kigali
The Irish riders face a brutal test in Kigali. The road race stretches 267.5 kilometers with 5,475 meters of climbing, and the hot, challenging conditions will push every rider to the limit. Head coach Neill Delahaye expressed full confidence in his squad, praising their mix of complementary skills and resilience. He believes Ireland has every chance of pushing deep into the race and possibly claiming a podium finish.
